The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-10-05

A Successful Fair.

Paw Paw Union Fair rs numbered with the
things of the past II was the first meeting
of the society, If q mere temporary organic
alton may be called society, and no effort,
no expense, no available means were spared
To make II success, and IL was most de-
cided success, Notwithstanding the fact that
the elements seemed, on the last day, TO have
conspired against it. The thanks of the
community are certainly due to the officers
and managers of the institution for their
untiring efforts during the past two months,
the result of which was To give the people
the most attractive fair that was ever held
within the limits of Van Buren, county. In
past years, the first day of our county fairs
has always been considered as of little or no
account, no admission fee has been charged,
and few people have been in attendance. 1t
wss not SO this year, although. thinking to
follow the old precedents, the managers
made the mistake of stating that no admis.
sion fee would be charged on that day. This
was subsequently changed, an attractive pro-
gramme prepared, and fair attendance had
and the usual admission charged
The second day-Butler's day-was the
"big day" The weather was threatening in
the morning, but the clouds soon broke away
and the day was ''as fine as anybody's day"
From early in the morning until late in the
afternoon. u continuous stream of humanity,
on foot, III carriages, wagons, omnibuses,
hacks and every imaginable kind of vehicle,
was constantly pouring into the gates, while
the ticket sellers and gate keepers Were kept
constantly on the qlt rice 10 accommodate
the thousands who were seeking admission.
The third day-the day of the anxiously
anticipated wedding-bado fair to be but a
repetition of the first SO far as the matter of
attendance was concerned. The previous
evening was fair and warm, the moon, which
was at its full, shone brightly, and all looked
forward 10 another clear day. But "Old
Probs" knew better and had said. For
Michigan, rain" and it came in floods dur
ing the night and at intervals throughout the
day. But, Notwithstanding this, some thou
sands of people "daring storm and flood
and determined to see the thing through,
visited the grounds ana made the last day a
success, although not 10y any means what it
would have BEEN had the weather clerk been
on the other side of the question.
To describe everything in detail and 10
notice everything that was worthy of men
ton, would occupy more space than we have
at command and we shall not attempt any
such task, but content oursef with noting
some of the more prominent and interesting
features that came under our observation
and as seen from our standpoint.
OF course, the greatest attraction of the
occasion was Benz. +. Butler, the famous
Union general, lawyer, statesman, philoso-
pher and politician. Many people persisted
in entertaining the idea that he would not be
present, that he was not expected and that
the officers of the society had advertised him
only for the purpose of drawing a crowd and
with no expectation that he would be present,
but such was not the case; neither would the
gentlemanly managers Of the society have
lent themselves to any such scheme of decep
ton. The old gray haired veteran was
promptly on hand, arriving in town on We'd
nesday evening, and was at once driven to
the residence of Judge Hilton, who is an old
acquaintance of the generals and whose
guest he was while he remained in town.
At the appointed hour, on Thursday after
noon, preceded by the Elkhart band and
the members of the patriarchal circle in full
uniform the general was driven TO the grand
stand where he was received with tumultu-
Gus applause and where he at once became
the cynosure of several thousand pairs OF
scrutiniZng eyes. The unanimous verdict was,
not that the general is exactly what might
DO called handsome man, but that he looked
spoons from the dining room of his neigh
Dor.
While everyone was glad of an opportunity
TO see the general, his address was some
what of disappointment People had heard
and read so much concerning him that they
expected n famous Grafton, one that would
stir them up and give them an opportunity
for frequent "long and continued applause, .
~ not IN afln xva e
largely statistical and its salient points were:
first, that the farms of this country were too
large. that the law ought not allow a man TO
will his real estate. but should, at his death.
divide it equally between his sons and
daughters, thereby, in the course of time,
making small holdings and insuring better
CIVILIZATIONS; second, that the requirement of
large tracts of land by corporations was
wrong in principle and should not be toler-
ated, that it tended To fasten upon this
country the British-Irish system of landlord
and tenant. and although this now appeared
as n small cloud on the horizon, II would
eventually overwhelm the country if not re
pressed by the strong arm OF the law, and
that it demanded immediate attention. He
was opposed TO Henry Georgeism and
thought that the farmers already paid more
than their share of the taxes of the country.
He spoke about three-quarters of an hour,
and was Immediately driven back TO town
and was soon en- route for Massachusetts.
1t had been expected that he would remain
another day, but his business engagements
compelled him to 90 at once.
The next great attraction, of course, was
the wedding. This occurred as advertised
on the afternoon of the third day. The high
contracting parties were Mr.. Fred Beardslee
and Miss Lille Atwater Of Mattawan. The
officiating clergyman was Elder Bell of the
First Baptist church of this village, Judge
Hilton giving the bride away. The grand
stand was packed to its fullest capacity, while
a dense crowd of men, women and children
stood around on the outside in a drilling
rain to witness the impressive ceremony that
made the twain one flesh. This part of the
programme was fully carried out, the valuable
and handsome presents that had been pro-
vided for the happy couple being on exhibit
ton in Floral Hall during the entire fair. IL
is safe TO say that every one of the vast
throng that witnessed the novel wedding,
wished tho newly married pair a prosperous
and happy matrimonial journey.
Perhaps the display in Floral Hall was the
next most entertaining feature of the fair.
The hall had been elegantly draped and
decorated for the occasion, and presented a
most attractive appearance. Entering from